Geneva Summer Schools-University of Geneva

The University of Geneva is a French-speaking comprehensive University with a wide range of programmes in English. In addition to its nine faculties, it also boasts six National Centres of Competence in Research (PlanetS, SwissMap, Chemical Biology, Affective Sciences, Synaptic Bases of Mental Disease, LIVES Overcoming vulnerabilities) and is a co-founder of the Swiss Network for International Studies.

About Geneva Summer Schools-University of Geneva

Founded in 1559 by Jean Calvin, the University of Geneva (UNIGE) is dedicated to thinking, teaching, dialogue and research. With 16'500 students of more than 140 different nationalities, it is Switzerlands second largest university, after Zurich. It also has the highest rate of female enrolment (61% as against a national average of 50.1%). UNIGEs buildings are spread across the city, thus ensuring a strong link between student and city life, and certain research centres are located in the country or near the lakeshore.

UNIGE is composed of nine faculties (Sciences, Medicine, Arts, Social Sciences, Economics and Management, Law, Psychology and Educational Sciences, Theology, Translation and Interpreting). There are also several Interdisciplinary Centres (informatics, neurosciences and environment). UNIGE offers more than 290 types of programmes and more than 280 Continuing Education programmes covering an extremely wide variety of fields such as exact sciences, medicine, humanities, social sciences, economics, law, etc.

UNIGE develops its priorities along nine axes : life sciences (from gene to patient), physical sciences (from atoms to galaxies), neurosciences (from neurone to philosophy), historical sciences, environmental sciences and finance and society, vulnerabilities and ageing, language and communication science and international relations and European studies. UNIGE is host and co-host to six National Centres of Competence in Research : PlanetS, SwissMap, Chemical Biology, Affective Sciences, Synaptic Bases of Mental Disease, LIVES Overcoming vulnerabilities

Through its participation in the League of European Research Universities (LERU), UNIGE stands out as one of the 20 best research universities in Europe. It is also a member of other international networks : the International Forum of Public Universities (FIUP), which brings together some twenty universities, that are recognized within their country for the importance they give to research and their sound contribution to the development of society, and the Coimbra Group, an association of long-established European multidisciplinary universities meeting high international standards and committed to creating special academic and cultural ties in order to promote internationalization, academic collaboration, excellence in learning and research, and service to society.

UNIGE is active in the European Union Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, and regularly collaborates with institutions such as the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the European Southern Observatory (ESO), a European organization for research in astronomy, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the NASA. Moreover, it maintains a privileged connection with the European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN).

Based on its unique international presence in Europe, UNIGE has continuously strengthened its ties with the international and nongovernmental organizations established in Geneva, such as the United Nations Organization (UNO), the World Health Organization (WHO) the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), or the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Services

Although it is a relatively small city by European, Asian or American standards, Geneva offers cultural programs and infrastructure that any great metropolis would be proud of.

The city is ideally situated at the tip of the lake that bears its name, not far away from world-known ski resorts in the Alps, and is culturally linked with the Mediterranean area as well as central Europe.

Cuisine and music from all over the world meet here.

Nature lovers will enjoy the 310 hectares of parks and 40'000 trees in public areas or along the lake shores.

Culture lovers will be offered a lareg scale of events, from operas to movie festivals, including concerts and theatre plays.

The University of Geneva takes actively part in the cultural life of the city, with the University film society and the University choir.